UTSA is one of many universities known for their athletics department. Over the past 40 years, the university has implemented 15 NCAA Division I sports. Despite this long list of sports, there is still a major one that has yet to be added: men’s soccer.
While there are multiple DI sports at UTSA and a men’s soccer club, it still feels like there is an absence of soccer in the sports community on campus. The addition of a DI men’s soccer team would be fun to watch and support.
“The culture of soccer is heavily laced in San Antonio so the support for the team would already be there,” said club member Colin Harper. “Also with the club team growing steadily, we would have enough quality players to make the team worth it.” There’s already a women’s soccer team here at UTSA; a men’s team would help grow the sport around campus and around San Antonio.
In addition to the community’s desire, there are several other compelling reasons for UTSA to add men’s soccer. It would bring in more student athletes, since soccer is such a huge sport around the world. Introducing men’s soccer to UTSA would attract even more student athletes due to the Roadrunners’ well-respected reputation in the sports department. Hiring a well-known coach would help bring in new athletes as well.
On top of that, UTSA would finally be able to compete against other American Athletic Conference men’s soccer teams. There would be a lot of competitive conference matchups between the Roadrunners and other schools like University of South Florida, University of North Carolina at Charlotte and even University of Memphis who is currently the No.1 men’s soccer team in the AAC.
Sports fans on campus can almost feel the absence of an official men’s soccer team at UTSA. Introducing one would be significant for the sports community. This past February, the UTSA athletics department announced that it would be investing around $57 million towards current and future facilities and projects for the athletics department. The university is looking to improve the current baseball and softball facilities, while implementing new volleyball and basketball facilities for student athletes.
This should have students and fans of UTSA sports feeling optimistic, as it shows that the university is willing to improve and add new facilities for the sports we have right now. Who is to say that the athletics department won’t add a men’s soccer team and facility later down the road?
With the way UTSA prioritizes the importance of sports on campus, with both club sports and official sports, fans of UTSA athletics should be optimistic that there could be a men’s soccer team in the future.
